Aelira
The water ripples through the edges of the lake. A narrow mark of a pathway makes itself visible on the surface. And the path leads to the center of the lake where Alaric is standing.
He's in his formal royal clothes—a white tunic and toga with indigo borders. And he looks… magnificent? When he demonstrates his water abilities like this, he looks every bit the Greek god Poseidon from my previous world.
"Whoa brother! It looks awesome!" I exclaimed with awe from sitting on the grass. I don't know whether the magic or he himself looks awesome.
Aww I feel so proud to call this man my sibling! (melting face emoji)
I just want to make a reel of this and post it online! But I'm in god knows which extinct era right now. Here's no phone, no wi-fi. (Crying emoji)
Alaric looks at me and grins. "It'll look more awesome now."
And it does!
The crystal blue water formed droplets the size of a dumpling and arose from the lake, into the air. It was because he held out one hand in the air, controlling the droplets.
Is this what a real fantasy world is!
No matter how many times I see the people here using magic, I still feel awe each and every time.
Alaric rose both his hands above his head and all the droplets gathered together over where he's standing. What's he doing? An echo of ripples rumbles throughout the entire garden and in the next second, a shape takes form from the droplets.
SHAAEEN—
Jesus! A majestic bird is born out of the water, alive and beautiful. Except, it's a shape of a bird, not a real one. It shrieks again and it sounds both magical and musical! If I'm not wrong, it's a phoenix, which looks like it's carved out of the aquamarine gemstone.
I clap my palm to my mouth in amazement.
"How's it?" Alaric asks me and before I would say something, he claps his hands and the phoenix shatters in a splendid rain of crystals and falls all over the place. It creates music so nice, I believe it's a kind one can hear only in the heavens.
"Your abilities are too beautiful…" I'm still on the ninth cloud as I say that and watch the small fallen crystals vanish away.
"Indeed. It's the signature mark of our kingdom after all."
He stops floating on the lake and walks toward me.
"Yeah… and I will never get to experience using that by myself." I tap on the tiny withered flower beside me and it turns back to its vibrant yellow colour.
"Hey," Alaric sits beside me on the grass. "You also have a unique ability. It's beautiful in its own way."
"But it's useless. How will I use regeneration magic against someone with an intention to harm me? Even a non-ability user swordsman is stronger than me." I pout.
"You know, sometimes you freak me out with these talks! You weren't like this before."
I flinch.
Shit
Did I mess up? Of course the real Aelira was a naive princess who must've even thought twice before breathing in front of the royal officials!
And here I am, a complete disaster of royal etiquette (smiling without any emotions emoji. This one is upside down)
"Eh-he.. what do you mean, brother? I'm just reasoning about the worst possibilities." I give him a sheepish laugh.
"You don't have to worry.' He pats my head. "Let someone try coming near you with bad omen and you'll see whose sister you are. I'll bury them six feet under—"
"Whoa whoa whoa! Calm down brother!"
His overprotective instincts just randomly kick out like this. Flames of blue aura are swirling around his silhouette.
"Your highness, the crown prince." A knight comes running toward us.
He bows his head and addresses Alaric, "Your highness, you are summoned to the throne room by his majesty."
Alaric stands up. So do I.
"Is something the matter, Gareth?"
Gareth, the brown haired knight, looks nervous as he speaks.
"It is as I heard, an envoy has come from the neighbouring kingdom, your highness."
"Neighbouring kingdom you say…" Alaric frowns. "Which one?"
Gareth quickly spares a glance at me. There are beads of sweat on his cute face.
"Ahem— it's the kingdom of Velmora, your highness. And the crown prince of Velmora is on his way to the palace of Sylvaris."
Velmora?
"Why is he—" Alaric stops mid-track on his way inside the palace. "Aelira, I'll see you later. Don't get into anything stupid when you're alone!"
"I don't do anything stupid!" I snap but he's already out of earshot.
A Velmoran envoy huh? And the crown prince too? Hmmm. Suspicious.
I'm still not convinced that this world is the same world as the 'Ashes of The Crown'. Though the name of the Velmoran king is also the same—Daven de Viremont. But it's not like only one person can have that name! And besides, it feels scary to think about that dunghead king. And my heart still aches to think that Kael might be real and suffering like that in the novel (broken heart emoji).
So it's better to be realistic and think that these 'reincarnation into a novel' things are nothing but gross.
Urgh, I want to use my magic now!
The raspberries grow up beautifully as I place my hand on the ground— the surge of power releases from my body to the mud and the trees lavish thoroughly.
I often get this craving to do cultivation and play with my abilities. Though Alaric calls it 'stupid', father says I should do what I like.
Aww what a pookie father he is!
I rub my muddy hands on my skirt and pop one berry inside my mouth.
Kyaa~ it's so sweet!
I'm wearing maid clothes. As I should! I snuck out of my room again to do this cultivation thing right after Alaric told me not to loaf around.
Like I'd hear him! Huh!
I sit down beside the trees and start cutting the stems of the roses I bought with me in a basket. I'll place them on my balcony as they look so pretty!
Gardening was my favorite hobby even in my previous life. With my frail health and constant medical treatment, I found serenity in my solitude when I was taking care of my plants. I wanted them to be healthy because I myself could never be that.
But Aelira's body is all healthy except for the fact that she'd died mysteriously. It's a nice thing changing your body once in a while, I guess! Ahem.. that was an out of character thought for Aelira though.
Crunch
Huh? Who's there?
Might be the golden cat. She's my companion during gardening times.
I peek my head out on the pavement brushing off the raspberry bushes aside. And stretch my hand out for her.
"Come here, Pudding!" I call out cheerfully and look at the fluffy golden furred kitten.
But… Where's Pudding? This is a pair of shiny boots—
I lift my head up.
Gasp!
I've never seen this much unearthly face before! I mean, everyone in this world is walking oil-portraits. But this man!? I wanna take my eyes out on my hands and inspect this thoroughly.
Golden hair which is swaying with the wind. A perfect shade of skin. Attractive eyebrows. Green eyes like emeralds. A perfect nose and perfect lips…
I realize mid-analysis that my hand is still stretched out and I'm gawking at his lethal face card like a freak.
I immediately compose my hand and look away from his face. Was it always this hot in Sylvaris? My face is heating up!
"Ah.. my apologies, miss. I shouldn't have been wandering around like this." He said with an awkward bow.
'Miss'?
Oh fuck! I'm in the clothes of the maids! Phew.. my princess image isn't embarrassed then.
"It's alright! Really! You don't have to apologise!" I shake my hands violently. What am I even doing?
The man looks at me. His awkward wariness is slightly gone. Then he looks around the garden.
"Are you the gardener here? The garden really looks so pretty."
I blush so hard, I want to jump into the lake right away!
"Uh.. yeah, yeah I'm the gardener! And thank you!" I press the hat harder onto my head. If he sees my hair, he'll know right away that I'm from the royal family.
He looks at my face. No—he studies my face. Then he looks at my attire. My hands. And the roses and the berry bushes around.
His eyes crinkled on the corners. Eh?
He smiles. Ehh?
He has dimples. Ehhh?
Has he recognized who I am?!
Brother! I should've heard you!
"I should head to the center palace now. The king awaits me." He stretches out his hand. "It was nice meeting you…. MissGardener?"
Why did I hear mischief in his last words?
His hand is stretched toward me.
"...." Should I shake his hand? But there's mud on my own—
"I think it was rude of me not to introduce myself first." And he shows proper courtesy; placing a hand to his chest and bowing like a nobleman.
"I'm Kael de Viremont, the crown prince of Velmora ."
"...."